AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - November 2013 - 90

P&E

OWNERSHIP

protein punch. To wash it down? Gatorade.
The added electrolytes are a bonus, but it’s
the bottle that makes it my choice. I’ll just
say it—when it comes to in-flight relief, the
durability, shape, and resealability of the
32-ounce bottle is hard to beat, and the price
is right.
As a follically challenged Irishman, I
consider myself an expert on sunscreen—
use it—in the cockpit. Like others I’ve talked
to, I was taught that you couldn’t get a sunburn through glass. You can, and modern
glass-canopy cockpits and altitude make it
worse. So unless you enjoy donating yourself to your dermatologist bit by bit, wear
sunscreen when you fly, even in the winter.

90 |

AFTER LANDING. From the moment you
step out of your airplane, almost everyone who you will encounter between the
FBO and your hotel is there to assist you.
Let them. I have two rules of thumb during
this stage of a trip: 1. It never hurts to ask.
2. Tip smartly. Trust me on this; an ounce
of bravado is worth a pound of savings. Are

I have two rules of thumb
during this stage
of the trip:
1. It never hurts to ask.
2. Tip smartly.
you buying fuel? Ask to have tiedown fees
waived; most will, some won’t—unless you
ask. Need a quick trip into town for a sandwich? Many FBOs have crew cars that can
be used at no charge, and asking the desk
attendant if he would like you to pick him
up something while you’re out will go a long
way to make discretionary fees magically go
away. Taxi drivers and bellmen, while valuable, rarely offer more than the standard
service of transporting you and your stuff;
they expect a tip, and should be given one.
Interestingly, the person who you are least
likely to tip is the one that has the biggest
impact on your overall comfort—the front
desk attendant. Trust me, this works—not
every time, but it does work. Simply explain

to the front desk attendant that you’re tired
from a long flight and anything that he or
she can do to assure the most comfortable
room possible would be greatly appreciated, and slide him a $20 tip. Why $20? For
starters, it’s enough to get noticed, but it’s
also enough for most to feel guilty for taking if they can’t help you out or it’s against
hotel policy to accept. If accepted (and more
times than not, it is) that $20 investment at
worst will keep you out of the “less desirable” rooms, and, at best, will score you a
sweet suite. Remember, it never hurts to ask.
Few GA pilots, as well as their fortunate passengers, would deny that traveling
by private aircraft is, well, just a whole lot
better than the airlines—which, even at
their best, for many straddle a line between
indifference and utter frustration. General
aviation provides us with time, flexibility,
and control. And if your bag fails to arrive
at your destination, it’s probably still in the
trunk of your car.
AOPA
EMAIL chris.rose@aopa.org

GIVING WINGS AOPA FOUNDATION’S AIRCRAFT DONATION PROGRAM

“

Our plane served us well, and
now it will help preserve the
freedom to ﬂy...

”

Donate your aircraft, to the AOPA Foundation and make
a big difference in the future of general aviation. It takes
virtually no time, effort or expense. You’ll feel good about
helping preserve the freedom to ﬂy, and you’ll easily ﬁnd
a new home for that beloved plane you’re no longer using.
Sound easy? It is.

Simply give us a call at 800-872-2672,
email us at AOPAFoundation@aopa.org
or ﬁll out our online inquiry form at
www.aopafoundation.org/aircraft

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AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - November 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - November 2013